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From Idu Jude, Abuja
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Stephen Ajiya, has said that the emergence of Hon. Tanko Ishaku Yamawo as the new party Chairman in the FCT is a clear indication of total victory for the party in the FCT and Nigeria in general ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Honourable Stephen Ajiya made the remark on Monday in Abuja during an exclusive interview with The Sun, emphasising that Yamawo, as a renowned politician, public servant, and unifier, is best suited to build a bridge across the party divide in preparation for the general elections.
Further emphasising the party’s unity and capacity to defeat opposition parties, he added: “Before now, there has always been deep-rooted division in the FCT APC. And this brings about internal wrangling and division that produces two factional Chairmen under one party. I can tell you that it came to an end through the efforts of the Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, and Senator Philip Aduda, including other party stakeholders, who saw the potential in Honourable Yamawo, and today we have only one party Chairman.”
Ajiya added that the peaceful outcome of the FCT party congress held over the weekend is a testament that the party is doing great and will do better in the capital city of Nigeria. He noted that it is a thing of joy to see the party, for the first time, produce a consensus candidate witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
On the capacity of the newly elected FCT party Chairman, he said that Yamawo is not a new person in FCT political calculations and can galvanise support across party lines to ensure that the APC emerges victorious.
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“He has been here for a very long time, and has contested various elections and was one-time a councillor in the FCT. He is a vast politician and does not require much introduction. So I guess he is good for the job.”
Consequently, he warned that the smooth sailing of the APC in the 2027 election would also depend largely on the candidates vying for the senatorial seat and the House of Representatives. “We in the FCT are confident because we know that Senator Philip Aduda is willing to come back and we will always vote for him. So what does that mean is that through Aduda’s capacity in the FCT, the APC is capable of reaching out to the people at the grassroots and across party divides.”
Meanwhile, Ajiya has attributed the developmental strides of the FCT Minister to the APC party agenda. He said the efforts of the Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, are exemplary and the credit goes to the party, even though the Minister is a member of the PDP. “He, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has shown how to build the FCT and is also influential in how party officials can be elected and help build the city.”
While commenting on the possibilities of Senator Philip Aduda returning to the Senate despite dissenting voices, Hon. Ajiya shrugged, noting that not even Jesus Christ could contest an election in Nigeria without an opposition.
He further reminded the public that an election is meant to be contested by many, though not all can win. “That is why it is called an election contest. And I can tell you that many are here as first-timers who print posters and banners to launch themselves into the political space. It does not necessarily mean they will win. So such is allowed. That is how some people test the waters and who knows, Aduda might not be there forever. But it will be a great error for the FCT to elect a first-timer into the Senate in this critical stage. We are all having the effect of 2023. We may risk the House of Representatives but not the Senate. We cannot risk a new person to replace Aduda, who is already a ranked Senator in the company of Sen. Ndume, Orji Uzor Kalu, and others. So the FCT cannot afford to bring in a newcomer who may not have the capacity to make contributions to our city development.”
In another development, Hon. Ajiya has reminded members of opposition parties in the FCT to cross over to the APC, as no opposition party can defeat the APC come 2027 in the FCT and other states of the Federation.
